Messi wins Ballon d'Or for 4th year running

Compiled by @Bhadoosky
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has claimed the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or award after he netted 91 goals to break the record for goals scored in a calendar year.
Messi, 25, beat team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the prize.
It was a record fourth successive trophy for the Argentina star, who won
both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or in 2009
before then claiming the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 and 2011 when the two
prizes were merged.
An emotional Messi said it was "unbelievable" and thanked everyone who
had helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession as he picked up the
trophy in Monday night's gala awards ceremony at Zurich's Kongresshaus.
"To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable," Messi said.
"The fourth award that I have won is just too great for words. I want to
remember my team-mates at Barcelona, especially Andres. It is with
great pride that I am beside you today and that you play and train with
us.
"(I also want to thank) my team-mates with Argentina, my colleagues who
voted for me, the captains and coaches, my family, my friends, and
lastly and most especially my wife and my son. Thanks very much."
Iniesta, 28, was a runner-up in 2010 and won UEFA's Best Player in
Europe award in August but failed to become the first Spanish winner of
the award since Luis Suarez in 1960. Ronaldo, the 2008 Ballon d'Or
winner, has continued to impress with Madrid and netted 71 goals in 64
games throughout 2011-12 while bagging 16 in 18 in La Liga so far this
season.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque claimed the FIFA Coach of the Year award.
Del Bosque said he was proud to represent all of Spanish football after
seeing off competition from ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and Real
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to claim the award for the first time.
The Euro 2012-winning coach showed characteristic modesty in claiming
that the award was recognition for everyone who had helped Spain to
claim a record third major championship in a row last summer.
"First of all, I want to congratulate the other nominees," Del Bosque
said. "It is a great privilege and honour for me to be involved with the
Spanish Football Federation, the technical staff and the coaches and to
represent the Spanish team and Spanish football."
Former Real Madrid boss Del Bosque, who also led Spain to the 2010 World
Cup, took the opportunity to thank those who had helped him reach this
point in his career, and to call on all involved in football to set an
example in their personal behaviour.
"In this moment I want to remember my family and all the coaches I had
in my career, who helped me to become a coach," he said. "I would also
like to say that all of us in football, we all want to win, but we are
also obliged to defend football and look after it, by setting an example
by our behaviour and personal conduct."
Mourinho chose not to attend the ceremony, claiming last week that he
had to remain in Madrid to prepare for his side's Copa del Rey last-16
second round tie against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on
Wednesday.
The FIFPRO XI award also proved a major success for the Spanish game,
with the entire selection coming from La Liga, with all but one of the
players selected coming from Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Men's World Player of the Year: Lionel MessiWomen's World Player of the Year: Abby WambachMen's Coach of the Year: Vicente Del BosqueWomen's Coach of the Year: Pia SundhageFIFPRO XI: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain); Dani Alves
(Barcelona and Brazil), Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain), Sergio Ramos
(Real Madrid and Spain), Marcelo (Real Madrid and Brazil); Xabi Alonso
(Real Madrid and Spain), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona and Spain), Andres
Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain); Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina),
Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid and Colombia), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real
Madrid and Portugal).FIFA Puskas Award for best goal: Miroslav StochFIFA Fair Play Award 2012: Football Federation of UzbekistanFIFA Presidential Award: Franz Beckenbauer
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